Whoops predicted text oysters should’ve been posters

So, now that the two incomings are confirmed, it's been the biggest off season recruitment drive for years by Leeds. Gary has done a brilliant job so far, and may not yet have finished. Clearly the £300k shortfall in central funding has created an opportunity to bring in Croft and Ackers, and Gary will have known about that for quite sometime, probably the reason for the "list behind the list" comment.



If we can add a big experienced prop, Burgess or Sutton would be ideal, then it's as much as even I could have asked for.



There's no reason why we shouldn't be back in the top 4 next season now, and with luck with injuries who knows how far we can go.



Really looking forward to the new season with interest again. Excellent work Gary, over to you Rohan.

I’m not actually bothered about winning silverware TBH, I just want a season without major drama, play some good entertaining RL and be up there competing rather than fire fighting in the bottom half.



I want to go to the games especially against the ‘bigger’ teams thinking we are in level terms with them not hoping for a plucky win, and I want to see some intelligence on the pitch, weve been the dumbest team in the league for a few years imo, and it’s simply been down to the imbalances in the squad.

How many have we brought in that were under contract?



Miller, Mom, Ackers and Croft?



Pretty good going and shows that olayers do want to come to us despite what some think.



It’s also interesting to read comments by Saints fans, they think they are well behind in recruiting and clubs like us and Wigan are way ahead for the next few years.

Great off season. Does make you wonder what we’ve been doing recruitment wise for prev 5 years though!

Well, got to hand it to GH, these are statement signings.

Just what we needed.



But still can't help thinking we are a prop short.

We spent most games last season getting rolled 70-80 metres every set.

And we've lost Tetevano and Walters.

The new sparkly backs are not likely to stop that.



A couple of injuries (which are inevitable) and Donaldson is at prop.

Don’t think we’ve really have had the funds available until now, but we have made some big signings in the last 5 years they’ve just not been the right ones, Rohan Smith could be a big part in that, he’s constantly talked about getting the ‘right’ players in

Totes agree Christopher.



Good work by RS and GH - I guess Oates has something to do with the new commercial deals which have helped underpin this spending spree too:



I actually don’t love us buying our way out of trouble but it is what it is. Rather this than more years of doldrums.



I think other clubs will be taking Leeds more seriously next year. Now we will be able to properly judge RS as a coach with a side he has assembled. He has been hammered by some on here most of the year and responded by replacing the entire spine; which tells you he hasn’t been happy with the players ability to execute.



I expect some twists and turns next year; not all these signings might work out; Newman has to get through a season fit; we need to resolve the futures of some young players and there are another slew of contracts ending next season. But I do believe the major surgery has just been done and for the next few years it should be a case of refining.

Totally agree here mate but we may have to wait until 2025 to sort the pack out fully. This is where for me we should not have retained Donaldson, Myler or Bentley and that would have given us enough room to bring in a quality senior prop.

I have criticised GH heavily for past recruitment as he has been the common denominator. I do think the club has had financial woes during and after the stadium redevelopment; however clubs with less resources than Leeds have done better.



So I have to give credit to GH now by the same logic: however I think the majority of the choices here in new players are down to RS, and GH has supported him.

Yeah im not usually one for just throwing money at the problem but it does feel as though we’ve thrown it in the right direction this time and I think it was needed to show the clubs intent.



Croft is obviously the headline signing but, Miller, Frawley, Mom and Ackers are very astute signings IMO, they address a lot of the problems we’ve been having, namely Pace, rugby Intelligence and leadership

Myler was still contracted and he is a very handy player to have in the squad, Donaldson won’t be taking too much cap up and is a good role model for the younger players, Bentley you may have a point but lets not forget he is actually a good player, if he can get back to his 2022 back end of the year form he is an assett

And another huge one that we've missed in my opinion - Skill! So many dropped balls, poor passing and kick selection for a good few seasons. Time to see some proper rugby players really take our great crop of home grown talent to the next level.



Personally, for me, if we're not in a major final next year, it will have been a failure. Not saying we'll start with a bang, but we should be competing at the back end.

I disagree about not being in a final will be a failure, its a totally new team basically, I just want us in the mix rather than scrambling around the bottom 4/5



I also want us to be playing attractive intelligent and skilful RL that I look forward to watching

Very happy with the recruitment and having Martin back in the backrow and Simpson back fit will be like new signings too.



Could do with getting Newman and Fusitua out for at least 80% of games next season.



We really could do with a prop still for next year because if Oledzki or Holroyd break a leg, we are pretty short again given Walters and Tetevano have left.



I would personally have got rid of Olpherts, Bentley and Donaldson and brought in a prop and a reserve winger. Likewise, I wouldn't be surprised to see one of O'Connor or Johnson to leave given the Ackers signing.

Don’t think OConner will leave, Im sure I read Ackers say he already knows him and they get on well? They will compliment each other i think

We need more from the props we've got. Not saying another wouldn't be welcome but there's one or two playing too much inside the comfort zone. You'd have to say that RS isn't afraid of engineering departures to bring the right material in so I'm not 100% convinced he'll wait til 2025 to shake things up as he sees fit.

Simpson could cover wing if needed although with an ACL depends if his pace has been affected. We have some really exciting wingers coming through over the next few years IMO.

Very good point and totally agree. Mik and Sangare in particular need to stand up and be counted next year, Mik has shown he can do it and i can see him getting back to his best personally. Sangare needs time, he's got all the assets to be a really good prop, he's very strong and a big unit. I'm hopeful RS will get a tune out of him next season.



I was pleased with how Holroyd went, he's young and not played much rugby so was bound to fade, plus the team back end of the season was a farce. Lisone got better and better and should be cracking this year.



Behind that it starts to look bare in depth for a team wanting to compete in a GF. Goudemand is a solid addition but he's not capable of plugging the gap if we lost Mik Holroyd Lisone for a lengthy period. Plus we have lost Walters and Tet.... this definately needs bolstering in the coming months if at all possible.

I personally can’t see RS letting any of the main 4 go this year, and don’t think there’s a need.



Some interesting names up for renewal next year including Martin and Newman; as a minimum I would expect another 3 cap players to leave at the end of next year if not before and maybe that’s when we make our bid for Burgess or someone similar.



RS got rid of some dead wood early such as Dwyer and Sutcliffe; this off-season has been the main cull and then 2024 may bring some aftershocks. I do think RS knows what he expects and whilst he never bags players in public, he can be ruthless. He knows his job is to build and coach a winning side at Leeds and I think generally he’s doing a great job.



No room for hiding next year, barring bad injury runs again though. We need to see what an RS team can really do.

Options at prop are so limited when you don't have a quota space free. Think we will see a couple of players depart in the coming weeks, but if the English NRL contingent don't want to come, who else is there? I suppose Gill Dudson would neatly fill Tet's "mostly suspended" role if we are looking at like for like.

It may be 2 + 2 = 5 but I wonder if Matt Shaw referring to "Catalans prop Mickael Goudemand" here https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/rugb ... d-27929974 is the club getting out the message that we are now spent up and a new prop is unlikely?

It may be 2 + 2 = 5 but I wonder if Matt Shaw referring to "Catalans prop Mickael Goudemand" here https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/rugb ... d-27929974 is the club getting out the message that we are now spent up and a new prop is unlikely?

Quote Rhino at work="Rhino at work"It may be 2 + 2 = 5 but I wonder if Matt Shaw referring to "Catalans prop Mickael Goudemand" here https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/rugb ... d-27929974 is the club getting out the message that we are now spent up and a new prop is unlikely?'" Not sure what you mean? Gourmand was a Prop at Catalans

Quote Rhino at work="Rhino at work"It may be 2 + 2 = 5 but I wonder if Matt Shaw referring to "Catalans prop Mickael Goudemand" here https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/rugb ... d-27929974 is the club getting out the message that we are now spent up and a new prop is unlikely?'" Not sure what you mean? Gourmand was a Prop at Catalans

I suppose I was referring to the is he a prop / is he a second rower debate. It sometimes feels like when people talk on here about whether we are a prop short (putting quality to one side) he is often not taken into account.

I have been impressed with Catalans pair Paul Séguier and Jordan Dezaria this year. Either would do nicely to finish off the squad